Preparing to be stranded: Walton residents deal with flooding

Walton County officials Monday assessed damages at Choctawhatchee River near the Cowford boat ramp in Ponce de Leon.

ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

By ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

Published: Monday, July 8, 2013 at 04:10 PM.

PONCE DE LEON — A Walton County Sheriff’s Office boat broke the stillness of the Choctawhatchee River on Monday as it made its way down the murky green stream.

Deputy Brad Barefield steered the boat down the river that had risen more than 10 feet above its natural waterline tolook for any damage, looters or areas of concern.

“We’re at major flood stage,” said Sheriff’s Office Maj. Joe Preston, the county’s emergency management director who was riding along with Barefield.

By last Friday, 19.4 inches of rain had fallen on Inlet Beach, with another 2 to 4 inches Saturday. Freeport saw 12.78 inches by Friday and Rock Hill reported 10.22 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The rain caused more than $1.4 million in damage to roads, bridges and homes in Walton County. Preston said that estimate could go up depending on what officials find when the water recedes.

Damage in Okaloosa County was estimated at more than $842,000, according Emergency Management Director Randy McDaniel.

The Walton County deputies said Monday the rising water and a tropical storm in the Caribbean were cause for concern. Preston said no evacuations have been ordered, but the future is unclear.

“This came up on us a little quick,” Preston said before he and Barefield headed out in the boat. “We’ve had roads washed out, but luckily no major arteries were shut down and most of the secondary roads have reopened.

“For now, we’re watching the weather conditions … We don’t need any more water, but all we can do is watch.”

Meteorologist David Eversole with the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., said the daily forecast calls for a 30 to 50 percent chance of rain until early next week.

“I don’t think there’s a risk for flash flood, but we could see some nuisance flooding in low lying areas,” Eversole said. “It would be almost easy for that to happen with a nice, heavy shower.”

The Choctawhatchee River reached as high as 17.79 feet at Bruce at 5 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The river was at 17.65 feet at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Flood stage is 13 feet and major flood stage is 16.5 feet.

“The worst of it should be over,” said Don Van Dyke with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. “If we get more rain it could cause localized flooding, but we should be improving from here on out.”

Picnic tables, road signs and low-lying roads were still hidden under the river Monday morning. Patricia Hudson of DeFuniak Springs pointed to a flooded area at the Cowfordboat ramp off State Road 20 and was amazed at the water level.

“You can’t see anything,” Hudson said to her husband, Keith. “This is worse than the last time it flooded. It is unreal. This flooding messes up a lot of things.”

Hudson said she had her daughter’s father-in-law stay with her for fear that his home would be flooded. She said that arrangement is common sense to folks who live in areas susceptible to flooding.

For many, getting ready for a flood is just a matter of being prepared.

Tonya Boyer set out Wednesday to buy essentials such as milk, eggs, baby formula, and was ready to hunker down in her house trailer until the rain subsided. For her and her neighbors, its common practice.

“As soon as we saw the rain we went to the store,” said Boyer who lives on Charles Rushing Road near the river. “Our dirt road gets flooded or badly damaged when there’s heavy rain. You have to prepare to be stranded.”

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published
without permission. Links are encouraged.

PONCE DE LEON — A Walton County Sheriff’s Office boat broke the stillness of the Choctawhatchee River on Monday as it made its way down the murky green stream.

Deputy Brad Barefield steered the boat down the river that had risen more than 10 feet above its natural waterline tolook for any damage, looters or areas of concern.

“We’re at major flood stage,” said Sheriff’s Office Maj. Joe Preston, the county’s emergency management director who was riding along with Barefield.

By last Friday, 19.4 inches of rain had fallen on Inlet Beach, with another 2 to 4 inches Saturday. Freeport saw 12.78 inches by Friday and Rock Hill reported 10.22 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

The rain caused more than $1.4 million in damage to roads, bridges and homes in Walton County. Preston said that estimate could go up depending on what officials find when the water recedes.

Damage in Okaloosa County was estimated at more than $842,000, according Emergency Management Director Randy McDaniel.

The Walton County deputies said Monday the rising water and a tropical storm in the Caribbean were cause for concern. Preston said no evacuations have been ordered, but the future is unclear.

“This came up on us a little quick,” Preston said before he and Barefield headed out in the boat. “We’ve had roads washed out, but luckily no major arteries were shut down and most of the secondary roads have reopened.

“For now, we’re watching the weather conditions … We don’t need any more water, but all we can do is watch.”

Meteorologist David Eversole with the National Weather Service in Mobile, Ala., said the daily forecast calls for a 30 to 50 percent chance of rain until early next week.

“I don’t think there’s a risk for flash flood, but we could see some nuisance flooding in low lying areas,” Eversole said. “It would be almost easy for that to happen with a nice, heavy shower.”

The Choctawhatchee River reached as high as 17.79 feet at Bruce at 5 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. The river was at 17.65 feet at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Flood stage is 13 feet and major flood stage is 16.5 feet.

“The worst of it should be over,” said Don Van Dyke with the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. “If we get more rain it could cause localized flooding, but we should be improving from here on out.”

Picnic tables, road signs and low-lying roads were still hidden under the river Monday morning. Patricia Hudson of DeFuniak Springs pointed to a flooded area at the Cowfordboat ramp off State Road 20 and was amazed at the water level.

“You can’t see anything,” Hudson said to her husband, Keith. “This is worse than the last time it flooded. It is unreal. This flooding messes up a lot of things.”

Hudson said she had her daughter’s father-in-law stay with her for fear that his home would be flooded. She said that arrangement is common sense to folks who live in areas susceptible to flooding.

For many, getting ready for a flood is just a matter of being prepared.

Tonya Boyer set out Wednesday to buy essentials such as milk, eggs, baby formula, and was ready to hunker down in her house trailer until the rain subsided. For her and her neighbors, its common practice.

“As soon as we saw the rain we went to the store,” said Boyer who lives on Charles Rushing Road near the river. “Our dirt road gets flooded or badly damaged when there’s heavy rain. You have to prepare to be stranded.”